Category Archives: Change

So last Monday was my last day of work, which means that we are a homeless and unemployed couple until January. 🙂 Kinda scary, but super exciting. Chase and I are both SO EXCITED about the coming months and what the future has in store for us. And although I already miss my BHC family and my little childrens that I worked with…

Here are some of the things I am looking forward to right now:

Family time-Today is the beginning of a two-week break with Chase! This is the first time we have been at home together with nothing to do in about 4 years. We are so thankful for the sweet family that has allowed us to stay in their guest house for a month while we are in transition. We are living on a beautiful ranch far from civilization! 🙂 Ok…it’s not THAT far…but it’s pretty far. We actually say the words “going to town”! We plan on relaxing a lot, loving on our 2 favorite pups and maybe taking some “Neature Walks.” (Now…you gotta watch this video…I almost peed my pants.) We’re gonna “get the earth moving”. Chase is dying to go hog hunting, but every time we “go to town”, we forget to buy ammo.

Trips & Traveling-We are heading to the beautiful state of Colorado in a few weeks for Chase’s last…YES, LAST…clinical rotation. He is “unlucky” enough for it to be in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 😉 It is a 14 week rotation, and I am sure he is going to love every minute of it! 🙂 I know I am going to love spending time up there. Those Rocky Mountains are good for the soul! I am also SUPER STOKED about a girlfriend trip to New York City in October. I’m a NYC virgin and I am beside myself excited about this trip! THEN…in December Chase and I are going to Mexico for a much earned (by him) vacation after his graduation. So…I’m pretty much going to be a nomad until December. At my parent’s house, friends’ houses, Steamboat, Denver… and your house if you’ll have me! 🙂

Paleo Cooking– I am loving using new foods and learning how to cook with them. (I bought an eggplant…and I’m terrified of it!) Chase and I have stayed on track (aside from some vacation time) since the end of our “Whole 30” and I’m looking forward to learning and trying new recipes with him during our break. I am really thankful for his support in this area of my life for a number of reasons: I can count of him not to tempt me with crap food, he is just as dedicated to changing his eating habits as I am, and he is one FABULOUS COOK. Seriously…you have no idea!

Crossfit– I am refusing to even think about saying goodbye to Crossfit Benedictus in a few weeks, but I’m excited about continuing to Crossfit wherever I am, if it’s possible. I got a PR today. 3 RM Sumo Deadlift= 225 lb.

The “Big Move”– In December, Chase and I are making the move to Kerrville, after 7 great years in Abilene. Chase is going to be working in an outpatient clinic there. More on Kerrville when we know! 🙂 As of now…we have a contract for Chase’s job. That’s it. No job for Jenni, no house, no friends. Somewhat scary…but mostly exciting! We have loved it there when we have visited, and everyone always has great things to say about the town. So I guess that’s enough for us!

Now…what I’m NOT looking forward to: living out of a suitcase for 4 months.

I have definitely written the word “excited” 100 times during this post (guess I need to sharpen up on my synonyms). I’m going to leave you with a tune that is going to be our “theme song” as we are homeless drifters for the next couple of months. This song just never gets old to me!

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Today is the day. I have prepared myself in all the ways I know how to. I am starting the Whole 30 Challenge today! Chase and I went shopping at Whole Foods in Dallas this weekend, cut up, pre-cooked, and planned meals to ready ourselves for this endeavor. I think that obsessing over it this weekend is what caused my nightmare last night. Here is how it went down:

Side-note: After researching and reading all weekend about the Whole 30, it is very evident that you CANNOT CHEAT. AT ALL.

This dream is very similar to the day before the first day of school ones….you know…the one where you go to school with no pants on, or everyone else’s school supplies are better than yours. What? You didn’t have that one? Well last night….I actually had a dream that I ate left over Chinese food from the refrigerator for lunch today and then realized what I had done. In my dream I bawled and cried. I remember thinking to myself, “what am I going to tell Chase?, How did I let myself do this?, What am I going to put on my blog?” Then…my alarm went off and I realized it was all just a crazy nightmare. I ended one nightmare to start another one. A real life nightmare….RUNNING. Ok…so I’m being dramatic, but it did SUCK!

I was the only one that showed up for today’s morning class, so Kristin gave me a workout to do that will be a good benchmark test for my eating challenge. We are going to do the same workout in 30 days and see how I feel. I’m hoping it is lots better than I did today!!

I’ll be logging my meals on the Whole 30 page of my blog and writing updates on how I’m doing, feeling, and OWNING this challenge. Say a prayer for me.

Crossfit Sexy

You be the judge….and be honest….which is sexiest??

Sexy weight lifting gloves

OR

Sexy hand calluses

This is a problem. You don’t even really have to vote…because I know the cold hard facts are that they both suck. I was trying to decide if I wanted to get the rather “butchy” weight lifting gloves to prevent the hand calluses that are becoming more prevalent with each passing day, and decided to go ahead and get some over the weekend. I picked out the cheapest pair (duh)at Academy and snuck them onto my hands before lifting weights Monday morning. The result…feeling like a big SISSY.

Yeah…I think that the calluses are somewhat gross and unlady like…BUT they are a constant reminder to me of the work I am putting in everyday to change my body. Also…one of my coaches told me that Crossfitters don’t wear gloves! 🙂

So here is my conclusion to this “dilemma”: Crossfit IS changing my body. In some awesome and not so awesome ways. I have man hands, bruised legs, sore muscles, black knees and more acne than ever before. BUT I also have a smaller waist, more defined legs, more energy, and more confidence than I have in a really long time. So all things considered…even as I type with my “man hands”…I have to say that I haven’t felt this “sexy” in very long while! I’m Crossfit Sexy! 🙂

New Pages on My Blog

I got rid of my “Recipes” page (who was I kidding) and added a new one today. I’m going to be keeping up with my workouts on my blog…mostly as a way to keep track of progress, but also as a way to share with everyone else a LITTLE BIT about what Crossfit is like. (To get the full affect…you have to come check it out.)

I’m also thinking about starting the Paleo 30 Day Challenge and will be keeping up with my progress during the challenge on my blog.

One last thing. I found this quote while “stumbling” on stumbleupon.com (my favorite pass-time) and had to share it. It reminded me so much of times I become jealous of other women and their perfectly cute selves. I had an “ahh haa” moment when I read it and realized that having a healthy body isn’t about luck…it’s about taking care of the one you got!

“When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they take better care of it there. “

~Cecil Selig

Hey Friends. I know it’s been forever since I’ve shared what’s on my mind, but it’s not because there is nothing on my mind. PROMISE! Life has been pretty busy! I have been working hard @ Crossfit, furniture, my “real” job, and making moving plans. And of course squeezing in time with Chase!

Right now though…I’m putting together a playlist. I am reluctantly starting a Couch to 5k program with my sister tomorrow and I’m getting prepared. If there is one thing that I dread to see when I show up at 5:15 AM for my Crossfit workout…it’s RUNNING! If you are having 365 to Skinny deja vu…it’s because I have visited this disdain on my blog before. Yeah…it’s still there over a year later! I will lift weights, do pull-ups, kettle bell swings, GHD, tire flips, jump rope, even double unders (because I can do those now! 🙂 I just hate to run. So of course I showed up at the BOX last friday morning to see the following workout on the board:

3 Rounds:

RUN 400m

15 Pull-ups

15 Dips

15 Box jumps

After complaining, dreading, whining, and finally running…while laying on the ground….near death….I decided that in order to advance my health and fitness…I’m gonna bite the bullet. I’m going to once again attempt to overcome my fear and disdain for running. I decided to make a pump-up playlist to help ease the pain and pass the time. Here is what’s on the pod.

Title: Make this Less Painful

1. Eye of the Tiger- Survivor (duh)

2. Beat the Clock- Sparks

3. Circuital- My Morning Jacket

4. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall- Coldplay

5. Rolling in the Deep- Adele

6. Give me Everything- Pitbull

7. The Cave- Mumford & Sons

8. Home- Edward and the Magnetic Zeros

9. This is the Stuff- Francesca Battistelli

10. More- Usher (had to)

11. Only Girl- Rihanna

12. The Thread- Cary Ann Hearst

13. Ecstacy- Darude (had to have techno)

14. Bad Romance- Lady Gaga

15. Break Your Heart- Taio Cruz

16. Funny the Way It Is- Dave Matthews Band

17. Gypsy- Fleetwood Mac

18. Three Little Birds- Bob Marley 🙂

19. Could You Be Loved- Bob Marley

20. Club Can’t Handle Me- Flo Rida

21. Don’t Stop Believing- Journey

I start in the AM. Pray for me around 5:15. Wait….sane people aren’t awake then! 🙂 I have my phone app downloaded, playlist on the iPod, clothes laid out….ready or not!

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley

Hey Friends!

Today I am going to share a few things that I have learned in the past couple of weeks. Maybe they will help you along your journey in life. Maybe not. Either way….

Lesson #1: If you are brave enough to buy a used couch at a consignment sale, lint roll the thing before you buy, lest you find ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF CAT HAIR ON IT LATER!

Oh yes. That’s right. I was in denial that it was a “problem” for a few hours. My first clue was the fact that Romo would not stop smelling the thing, but what doesn’t the dude sniff obsessively? Second clue was that my allergies BLEW UP all of a sudden, but it could have been the weather. The undeniable clue was when Chase sat on the couch in his white polo shirt and got up looking like a Calico Cat. BLACK HAIR EVERYWHERE!

Here is some proof for you non-believers:

Please note…for dramatic purposes…that this hair was collected by a lint roller AFTER the cushion covers had been washed and dried. Please also note…that it took almost a whole lint roller before I could roll hair-free.

This life lesson just confirms my long-lasting disdain for the feline community. (No offense cat lovers. I love y’all…just not your pets.)

Lesson #2: It is worth the hassle to tackle a couch infested with cat hair when the outcome is a cute, eclectic little thang.

I have great plans for this little dandy. I’m thinking some Amy Butler upholstery fabric and a new paint job is in the works. Eventually.

Lesson #3: It is not okay to buy a Hot & Ready Little Caesar’s Pizza and eat it for dinner and then breakfast the next day, no matter how poor you are.

Nor is it okay to make it a CRAZY combo because it’s free with a collegiate card. Yes. I’m ashamed of myself. Yes. It was deliciously gross.

Lesson #4: When you are lazy and slack off from working out for a week, your first workout back in the saddle makes you feel like straight poo-poo.

I may, or may not have cursed at my coach during Monday’s workout. I also may or may not have wished for death during the midst of said workout. I was sick at the beginning of last week and have been battling some serious self defeating thoughts and behaviors. So…excuses, excuses, excuses…I didn’t get much working out done last week. Come on though…be honest…if your long lost husband stayed cuddled up in bed at 4:45 AM how easy would it be for you? Hard or not though…it is much worse if you don’t.

Lesson #5: Back to the self defeating thoughts…when you let your husband’s weight loss successes define your journey as a big fat fail…you are much more likely to give up.

Chase and I started….well…RE-started…this little journey together a few months ago, and while I have made progress, Chase has MADE PROGRESS! Now, don’t misunderstand me, I am beyond proud of his dedication and success. I mean…he looks freaking sexy. Selfishly though, it is really hard to see friends and family and see them crap their pants and their jaws drop to the ground at the transformation he has made. Why is it so easy for him? Why is this journey so freaking hard for me? Why do I want to go eat a gallon of Blue Bell in cave…alone…when this happens?
This picture might explain part of the problem….

The other part of the problem would be that I sometimes forget that my journey is about ME. It is about learning to live a healthy life as a wife, worker, friend, sister, daughter, and all the other roles I play, without losing sight of my goals.

Lesson #6: It’s A-ok to be a junky!

Thanks to my pals Meredith and Brandy, I’m addicted to Advocare products and supplements. It started with Spark. Now I’m trying to get addicted to all kinds of pills and drinks. I just started the 24 Day Challenge today.

Basically the 24 Day Challenge has 2 phases. The first phase is a 10 day ‘detox phase’….”The purpose of cleanse is not to lose weight, though you likely will lose weight. The purpose of is to detoxify your body and remove toxins so that your body is better prepared to absorb the nutrients in phase two.” The second phase is a 14 day ‘max phase’….”this phase is designed to increase energy levels, control your appetite and provide healthy fuel for your body to burn off excess fat.”

I’ll try to keep you updated on how the challenge is going.

Lesson #7: There is really no substitute for good friends.

I feel really, really blessed to have awesome friends in my life. I have gotten to catch up with old ones, make new ones, and hang with my good ones over the past couple of months. Friends, I have come to realize…MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU! (Now go back and sing that last sentence like Kelly Clarkson.)

I’m looking forward to forgetting about the fact that Chase is leaving for another 7 weeks this weekend, by hanging out with my girlfriends. We gonna soak up some sun pool-side. Can’t wait!

These are my lessons learned…and now YOU know. Only 7 Life Lessons for now. I’m sure I could come up with some more…but let’s be honest…only a few of you made it this far! 🙂

I must admit, this past month has probably been one of the worst of my life. No seriously. My husband, Chase left for El Paso a little over three weeks ago for a PT clinical. (one of 4 over the next 8 months) It has quite literally been harder to be without him than I could have EVER IMAGINED. Here are some reasons I miss him so much.

1. He has been a part of my everyday life for the past 11 years, and I kinda don’t know how to function.

2. I can’t watch Law & Order or Criminal Minds at night anymore…too scary.

3. Small household tasks are not only harder to do alone, but I have little motivation to do them at all.

4. Our pups really miss their daddy.

5. I laugh A LOT LESS when he is gone.

6. It’s harder to “dream” together on the phone…and that’s one of my favorite pass-times with Chase.

7. It’s really frustrating to see him on Skype and talk on the phone…when all you really need is a hug!

8. There is nobody to talk to when I get ready in the morning, except Romo and Ruby…and they just get annoyed with me.

9. I don’t know how to pay bills by myself.

10. I’m really not looking forward to mowing the lawn! 🙂

There is a light at the end of this tunnel though and Chase had to remind me yesterday that “this too shall pass”. There are so many more things I am happy and exited for once all of these clinicals are over, and I can have my husband back! Here are some of my favorites things:

1. My husband will be a DOCTOR of Physical Therapy.

2. I actually get to spend evenings and weekends with Chase, and his head won’t constantly be in a book.

3. We won’t be living pay-check to pay-check. 🙂

4. A new phase of life…with an exciting move.

5. The possibilities of having hobbies and friends will be possible again for Chase. 🙂

6. We will hopefully start “growing” our family.

7. A workout partner/motivator.

8. A partner (in the flesh) for everyday activities.

9. My protector will be back!

10. This will hopefully be the last time in our lives that we are separated for so long!

I am REALLY looking forward to spending the weekend with my Boo. We are going to Ruidoso, NM! I have always heard the old saying that “absence makes the hard grow fonder” and I can now truly, truly attest to that. I’m just not “me” without him!

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11